Orono-Zoiji-Adventures

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Dras Edoc’sil, capital of the Zoiji Confederacy,
ten years after the Life Day Trinity...

While his granddaughter
Viquina was away on an archaeological dig with her three mischievous children,
Orono had a rare amount of time to himself. Instead of facing economic crises
or looming terrorists plots, everything within the Confederacy was at peace. While
his family was out enjoying this rare moment, he immersed himself in ancient
lore and stargazed from his personal observatory within the estate. However, it
was during an azure starlight night that the unthinkable happened. While
observing the new phase of Vyzeria, Dras Edoc’sil’s moon, Orono noticed a
strange shape moving forward in the distance. After enhancing the focus, he saw
that it was a small, organic-looking starship. It was an exotic sort of vessel,
a combination of clear white crystal, and a strange pitch black material with
collections of brilliant green lights bound together by strands of taught grey
webbing. The ship, as if it had been expected, landed mere meters away from his
position. Unsure of the vessel’s intent, Orono leapt forward, landing near what
appeared to be its bow. At that moment, a voice came from within,

“Peace, bipedal one. We
have no reason or intent to harm you.”

The voice was sweet and
reassuring, and the boarding ramp descended, showing Orono who he was speaking
to. Four eight-legged figures walked, or rather scuttled down the boarding ramp
to meet him. Like the vessel that had brought them here, they were like nothing
Orono had ever seen before. Their spidery legs were long and smoothly curved,
each hair upon them arranged to form mesmerizing patterns. From above the
waist, if indeed they truly had one, they appeared as ancient beauties. Each
possessed svelte features; accentuated by their pale grey skin, dark woven
robes and alabaster hair, and a set of four eyes gazed back at him curiously.
The first of them, who possessed unnaturally violet eyes and azure patterns on
her legs, came forward,

“Zovera Regantulla, of the
Arachnion Collective, at your service,” she said with a short bow.

“Orono Zoiji, of the Zoiji
Confederacy, at yours.” he answered calmly. Going straight to the point, he
asked,

“What brings you here?”

“Curiosity. We are the
Regantullans, leaders of the Arachnion Combine. We have been watching you and
your family for some time, and your magnificent work on Albios warranted
introductions,” Zovera answered evenly.

“You come from that same
galaxy?” Orono asked intently.

Zovera put on a warm
smile, letting him glimpse a pair of razor-sharp incisors hidden among her
teeth.

“You have merely taken
your first step into a larger frontier, Orono,” she answered knowingly.
Gesturing at the main doorway ahead of them she asked,

“May we come in?”

“Of course,” Orono
answered amiably, “I just need to call off my bodyguard droid. He doesn’t take
well to unexpected visits.”

A quizzical look came over
Zovera’s face.

“Droid? What is that?”

“A machine designed to
keep my family safe, at any cost,”
Orono answered.Speaking into his wrist
commlink, he said,

“HK-51, the individuals at
the door are guests, and have no hostile intentions. Do not engage, repeat do
not engage.”

After a short pause, the
heavy iron doors of Orono’s home swung open, with HK-51 ushering them in. They
were led to a large ash wood banquet table and took their seats. After much
feasting and drinking, Zovera made a complete introduction of the group.

“These are my daugthers,
Morwen and Bella,” she said after gesturing to a pair of young Anachrions with
emerald and gold patterns on their legs and indigo eyes.

“I am honored to receive
you,” Orono said to them.

“A pleasure,” Morwen and
Bella said together with a short bow.

“And this,” Zovera
concluded, “is my husband Hyrol.”

Huge and imposing, Hyrol
had red and black patterns on his legs with pronounced muscles on his arms with
bright orange eyes.

“A pleasure to make your
acquaintance, Hyrol,” Orono said evenly. Although he still sensed no ill will
from any of his new guests, he could not help but think Hyrol was simply
waiting to attack. However, he managed to dispel that thought after Hyrol’s
calm response of,

“Likewise, bipedal one.”

Now that he knew them
properly, Orono spoke his mind,

“I am sure that you must
be tired from the journey here, but I have something to ask you before the
night is through.”

Monday, March 24, 2014

Well, I can’t believe how close this school year is to being
done. Only a month ago, I had finished my midterms and was looking forward to a
week-long break. But now, there’s no rest for the wicked. I’ve got papers
galore to finish and meetings for second semester coming out my ears.
Thankfully there’s still time to relax. Hanging out with friends, Game of Thrones marathons and stress
relieving sessions on the Xbox 360 await on the weekends. So no matter how
stressful things might get, at least I won’t be going crazy anytime soon. And
with finals on the horizon, that’s a good thing.

I don’t mean to scare any prospective students that might be
reading this, only to say that for all the freedom that college gives, it’s not
all fun and games. Above all else,
branch out and build a circle of friends, no matter where you end up here at
Clark. I know you’ll probably have a lot of anxiety when you’re starting your
first semester. I speak from experience when I say that I was exactly like
that, but trust me when I say that recharging your batteries after a long week
is easier, and frankly a lot more fun with friends.

One last thing and I’ll get off my soapbox and let you take
all this in.

My number one rule: SLEEP.

I know there’s some pressure to do well but just remember
that sleep is a beautiful thing.

Monday, February 10, 2014

After the last of the dead
from the Inheritor Revolt were given proper burials and all the damage had been
repaired twenty years later, Orono called an end to all conflict during the
annual Life Day celebration. Now was a time for healing and happiness...

In the streets of Dras Edoc’sil...

Fresh snowflakes and a
brisk, cold breeze followed Orono during his walk back to his spacious home. He
couldn’t help but grin at excited children running past him, grabbing
snowflakes to show their parents, making angels, or just reveling in the winter
weather. This was the reason for one of his moral principles: never mess with
children. While Orono was ready to fight and kill grown men and women if
necessary, children were precious, and their happiness was sacred, something to
be preserved. But today was no place for such dark thoughts. He had to get
home, and prepare the Zoiji holiday banquet. A short while later, he reached
the front door, opened and closed it despite the frost in the hinges and went
inside.

“Nadia, I’m home,” he said
after brushing off the snow from his robes.

“In here, honey,” came a melodious
voice from the kitchen.

“Give me a second to put
on some covers and I’ll be right there to help.” Orono replied.

After changing into
clothes befitting a cook at an upscale restaurant, Orono entered the kitchen to
find his wife busy at work. Four bottles of homemade mulled wine sat on the
table, Sarkhaian sweet cakes, golden brown with a chocolate-caramel glaze were
steaming on a tray, fresh from the oven. Nestled by them were hefty oval spiced
plums with Naboo-style calamari, filled with her signature nutmeg-ginger sauce.
Taking in this delicious sight Orono said,

“This looks amazing.”

“Thanks. I know they’re
your favorites.” Nadia said with a happy smile.

“Yes, all prepared by a
fantastic chef,” Orono replied. “I just hope I can do the same for you and
everyone else.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Nadia
said reassuringly. “If you need me, I’ll be stoking the fire, putting up the
tree and the ornaments all right?”

“Good luck.” Orono said
after giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. Flashing another of her famous
smiles, she was off, and he started cooking for the family. Thankfully the
Force came in handy where that was concerned.

First was Celgo: a mug of
Kashyykan ale, fried colo clawfish with red wine sauce, greens with tomatoes
and finally stuffed clams.

Next was Vyrkana: Weequayan
long noodle stir-fry with chives, rootleaf and red peppers, steamed purple
cabbage with a dark chocolate mousse and honeyed milk for dessert, a childhood
favorite.

For Xhulon and Korgo,
spiced Kaminoan prawns with caprese salad and a glass of Kaasian Bloodshot, an
old vintage wine from the Sith Empire Orono had been cultivating just for the
occasion, and on and on and on...

Several meals later...

After finally finishing
and exchanging his sweaty, flour caked chef’s clothing for a tuxedo, Orono
gazed at the feast, and couldn’t help but feel his mouth water. The chime of
his doorbell quickly snapped him back to attention. Smiling broadly, he
welcomed in his family as they entered, but became quietly concerned when his
granddaughter Viquina and her husband Zoken passed by. While she looked
stunning in her red-black sleeveless dress, he couldn’t help but notice a
significant bulge in her stomach, or the fact that Zoken was nearly cradling
her as they walked to the table. With a subtle tap on his wrist communicator,
he told the Zoiji medical team: Tharan Cedrax, Eckard Lokin, Talos
Drellik, Archiban Kimble, and at least forty assistants to be ready when he
gave the signal. It was in the middle of the family dinner that Viquina nearly
fell off her chair, howling in pain. All she could say was,

“They’re coming!”

In a flash, a platoon of
family doctors was one the scene. Tharan Cedrax was the head of this delicate
operation.

“Contraction rate?”

“Every fifteen seconds,
doctor,” his assistant answered.

“Oxygen level?”

“Stable for the moment,
but we haven’t much time before it could hurt the babies,” Doctor Lokin said
urgently.

“Babies?” Viquina managed
in a soft whisper.

“Yes,” Talos Drellik said
soothingly. “You’re carrying triplets.”

Much later...

“Alright, Viquina. One
more time,” said Archiban Kimble.

She weakly nodded.

“PUSH!”

With one final effort, the
last of the three scarlet-skinned babies was out.

One after the other each
was given their name: Ixvya, Erys and Zeleste. Having regained enough strength,
their mother held them close and washed away their cries with a soft whisper
and a warm lullaby. Then, for Viquina’s sake, everyone else retired for the
evening, leaving Orono to stand vigil over his great-grandchildren. Even though
they were still infants, he could see the great deeds ahead of them and the
remarkable women they would become...